St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-30
DRURY'S GRAFTON.


Veterans of the Cause.
The ''Old man eloquent" of the occa-
sion, Victor Drury, of New York, was
next introduced. His address was char.
acterized by deep feeling and earnest
ness, and his eloquent words were res
ceived by the great audience with az
silence which attested the eagernesSa
with which his hearers followed him!1
He said: a
Labor is noble and holy. To defend
it from degradation, and to raise it to-
nobility is work worthy of the great,
est and best of our race. and this work
has begun most effectually in Minneap-,
history of the world we are
laying the corner stone of a
temple of labor in which
affairs shall be raised from which her
praises shall be sounded, shrine at
which those who are themselves noble
and holy shall worship her. 1t will be
the Mecca to which many thousands of
pilgrims will come to worship. Do you
understand the real Importance
of the act which we are per-
forming this afternoon. To me
it is recognition that those who have
been sufferers for us in the past have
of the faith of new civilization. of
true industry. The civilization of the
past has been continuous one. Since
it left its strange cradle on the Nile and
EuphrateS it has been travelling west
and has ever been manifested in either
the destructive or constructive phase.
1t has been represented by either the
soldier or the laborer, and
| BETWEEN THESE TWO FORCES
there has always been struggle for SUI
premacy. Just as civilization has pro-
crossed, so has the military power
ceased to govern. AS this struggle
look upon the laying of this
corner stone as an evidence
that peace and industry have conquered,
and we of the East look upon your
action with more than satisfaction, and
shall desire to initiate you so far as we
can. The fact that this is a temple
shows that labor is regarded in re-
ligiOus aspect. The man who is too idle
to work is a sinner, and for him there can
be no salvation, no heaven. 1t
is the droneS of the world who have
WOrkingmen are compelled to pass
Thus we are forced to build temple
that we smay bring the sinners to re-
pentence. The religion of labor means
the true religion which men give with
their minds. hearts and hands: not that
empty religion of the lips, which falls
upon the ears as rotten as dead apples.
We understand labor as being the eX-
preston of the nobleSt sentiments of
the human heart. 1t is love itself ex-
pressed in human action for the benefit
of human kind.
On THIS TEMPLE
1ya I,al not tpacb a has banD faI1Oht in
other temples, that poverty is blessing,
but that it is q curse which we will
abolish. The abolition of poverty will
sink as deep in the hearts of men,
as the present religion of grasp
ing selfishness. | believe
sentiment of fraternity, a sympathy of
brotherhood will prevail i'll the future
in the daily and hourly actions of those
who are taught this doctrine of love-;
When our influence shall have been felt
and we shall have brought about a new,
religion, then will be the coming of the :
true spirit of Christ. We are now going
to do what has never been done for US,
provide place where we can meet at,
which liquor is never sold
ONE OF THE LESSONS q,
this corner stone teaches is to remember,
this eyentful afternoon. | never eX-
pected todiye to see such a day. Fifteen
years ago the future seemed so far off,
the opportunities so few, that | did not
anticipate such progress could be made.
AT last we have conquered a position in
public opinion which has made the labor
question not only respectable one, but
a respected question. We have con-
quered because we have proceeded by
the education of our fellOwmen.
To you, men of Minneapolis, ] can but
say YOU have given me the greatest
pleasure have experienced in the past
quarter of a century. If there shall be
one thought to cheer me through old
age, or even on my deathbed, the re-
membrance that 1 have seen
the first corner stone of the
first labor temple laid will bring to me
pleasure even in death for which
thank you. Whatever may be the power
that has brought you together and has
unified your hearts respect it, revere it
and love it. Should any force or cir
cumstance transpire to destroy this
unity say to that power as Christ said in
the hour of His temptation "Get thee
behind me Satan"
Chairman McGaughey remarked, as
the applause which greeted Mr.. Drury's
words died away, that he felt highly
gratified of the opportunity of exemply-
flying one of the principles of the order
Olidt vi CQuttI diiu, Will tllio HUI
sion to the recognition granted women
by the Knights of Labor, introduced
MISS MARION TODD,
of Albion, Mich, who proved to be
very graceful and able speaker. She
created considerable amusement by say
ing, in reply to the chairman's sally;
that the knights of Labor was the only
organization in which woman who be-
HAYES herself is regarded as the equal
of man who behaves not" She went
on to refer to the erection of
labor temple as an indication
that the workingmen'S cause is not
lost one. UnorganiZed bodies must yield
to the organized, and the movement
which recognizes the ''inillry to one
the concern of ALL and which refuses
to allow race, sex or class distinction is
sure to triumph at a day not far distant
when the world will recognize the dig
nifty of labor, when the press will speak
for and not against it, when statesmen
will be glad to espouse its cause, and
when the pulpitS will dare to uphold it,
and will not consider the holy and re-
ligiouS exercises of the laying of cor
ner stone of a labor temple a Sunday
Dissertation.
Chairman McGaughey made the clos
ing address, in which be returned
thanks to all who had contributed to
the success of the occasion, and ap-
pealed for help in the future.
New Industry Promised.